Do you know how much feed you really have?

Tony Hall for Progressive Dairy

So far in 2020, there have been many unknowns for the U.S. dairy industry. It’s hard to know what to predict for future milk markets and milk prices. However, one certainty for all dairy farm businesses is the need to know forage inventories and ensuring ample forage stocks are available for the entire herd for next year.

This should be a joint effort between the farm team, nutritional consultant and crop adviser. Ideally, a forage inventory assessment should take place at least every quarter, tracking current forage stocks against usage rates and incoming harvests. However, at a minimum, this exercise should be undertaken at least once per year, after all forages are ensiled.

Learn six discussion points for a forage inventory.

Weekly Digest: Vegan company gains preliminary injunction to market product as ‘butter’

Weekly Digest: Retail dairy sales continue double-digit growth

$1 billion added to ‘food box’ program; CFAP payment updated

Put Clarion Food-Grade Lubricants to Work for You

Mycotoxin management products: Useful tool or expensive promise?

Bev Berens for Progressive Dairy

It is a moving target that changes. Not only does the presence of mycotoxins change year by year due to field conditions, plant stress, moisture or drought, the conditions within a bunker or forage bag can be different in different locations.

Packing success and consistency, product consistency throughout the pack, tightness of seal and elimination of oxygen all impact the degree to which mycotoxins will affect the dairy herd.

See what the risk factors for mycotoxins might be on your farm.

How we make co-owning equipment work with neighboring farms

"My dad finds it humorous that we are 'going backward in time' and doing things that Grandpa did, like a thrashing crew, hay-making crews, etc. We laugh and say, 'Well he was ahead of the game, economically.'"

Read more.

5 adverse silage scenarios and how to deal with them

Progressive Dairy Editor Emma Ohirko

When weather and growing conditions are less than ideal, it can be hard to know what steps to take to make the most of a subpar forage crop.

To address some of these concerns, Renato Schmidt presented a webinar titled “Making Silage Under Adverse Conditions” as part of this year’s Silage for Beef Cattle Conference jointly held by the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, Lallemand Animal Nutrition and Iowa State University Extension. Schmidt, a technical services – forage team member with Lallemand Animal Nutrition, covered five common scenarios under which silage production is unfavorable and provided several tips on how to minimize some of the less desirable consequences.

5 silage harvest challenges to prepare for

Don't neglect semen tank maintenance

Don’t let poor semen tank maintenance and management be the cause of poor semen fertility.

View checklist here.

Dairy Strong Blog: Crossing dairy with beef requires careful consideration

Contributed by Mary Hookham

Buyers continue to see value in dairy-beef animals at sale barns but are becoming more discerning as more crossbreds enter the marketplace.

Amanda Cauffman, a University of Wisconsin Extension agriculture educator in Grant County, Wisconsin, made that observation while talking about breeding-program considerations during the Dairy Strong conference Jan. 22 in Madison, Wisconsin.

View an enlarged version of the checklist here.